DEMOLITION

Definition: Demolition is the taking-down or complete removal of buildings or/and other structures.
or
Demolition is the process of destroying down or dismantling or collapsing down of large
buildings after its useful life period.
Note: Demolition contrasts with deconstruction’ which involves taking a
building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use.

Classifications of demolition
- Demolition of a building or a structure can be considered under the following categories:-
(i) Taking down – It is the partial demolition of a structure e.g. cutting back into the face of a
concrete surface to a depth behind the reinforcement.
(ii) The full demolition of a portion of a structure e.g. a deck span or column.
(iii) Total demolition – It is the complete removal or the full demolition of an entire structure.

Preliminaries in demolition
- Before any demolition takes place, a comprehensive or detailed survey must be done and should
include:
1. An assessment of the condition of the structure and the impact of removing parts on the
remainder.
2. The effect the demolition will have to the adjacent properties.
3. Photographic records, particularly of any noticeable defects on adjacent buildings.
4. Neighbourhood impact i.e. disruption, disturbance, and protection.
5. The need for hoardings (close boarded fences or barrier erected to prevent unauthorized persons
obtaining access in demolition site and to provide some degree of protection).
6. Potential for salvaging, recycling or re-use of materials.
7. Extent of basements and tunnels.
8. Need to terminate and protect for future reconnections of services like sewer lines, electric cables,
water pipes, telephone cables etc.
9. Means for selective removal of hazardous materials.
10. Preparation of plan for demolition work.
11. Required stability report i.e. stability calculations of the building to be demolished, structural
calculations for all temporary supports and stability of neighbouring buildings or adjoining
properties.

Problems encountered in demolition of buildings

- The problems that may arise while carrying out demolition work are as follows:-
1. Accidents due to persons falling from high, unprotected workplaces and through
openings.
2. Accidents due to persons being struck by falling objects.
3. The building collapsing suddenly and unexpectedly may cause death of the workers.
4. Insecure materials in or on the structure.
5. Exposure to dust, chemicals and noise influence to the occupational health.
6. Employing inappropriate methods of demolition.
7. Collapse of partially demolished structure due to the accommodation of large amount of
uncleared debris.
8. Congested site environment that easily cause damages to human workers or the third parties that
are situated close to the demolition site.
9. Difficult access for workers entering into a building under demolition.
10. Heavy machinery used in demolition may have a risk of collapse due to insufficient support.

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GBC Notes © J. Kiranga
 Factors to consider when selecting a demolition method
1. Type of the structure to be demolished.
2. Type of construction i.e. masonry wall, prestressed concrete, structural steel work etc.
3. Location of the site e.g. a detached building (an isolated site where the distance from the building
to the boundary is large and having no other building near it is referred to as a detached building).
4. Available methods of demolition.
5. Cost of demolition.

METHODS OF DEMOLITION
1. Hand or piecemeal demolition.
- It is the demolition by use of hand held tools and equipments like chisel, picks, club hammer,
claw bar, mattock, pneumatic hammer, oxy-acetylene cutter, hand grinding machine etc.
- The method involves progressive demolition of a structure by operatives using hand held
tools/equipments Lifting appliances may be used to hoist and lower members or materials once
they have been released.
- Demolition in this method is carried out in reversed order to that of construction i.e. top down. In
general, proceeding from the roof to the ground.
- Debris should not be allowed to fall freely from large heights to public highways or adjoining
properties.

2. Pusher arm demolition.

- This is a method of progressive demolition using a machine fitted with a steel pusher arm
exerting a horizontal thrust on to building fabric. Hydraulic movement is controlled from a
robust cab structure mounted above trucks.
- The height of the building should be reduced by hand demolition, if needed, to ensure that the
height above does not exceed 1.5m.

3. Deliberate collapse demolition.

- This involves the removal of key structural members causing complete collapse of the whole or
part of the building.
- Expert engineering advice should be obtained before this method is employed and should be
only used on an isolated or a detached building on a fairly level site so that the safety of persons
can be controlled.

4. Overturning or Wire rope pulling demolition.

- The method consists of steel wire ropes of at least 38 mm circumference attached at high level
and to an anchored winch or heavy vehicle which are used as the source of power.
- It may be considered where controlled collapse is encouraged by initial removal of key elements
of a structure, typical of steel framed buildings.

5. Wrecking ball or Ball technique demolition.

- The wrecking ball application consists of a crane equipped with a steel ball.
- The demolition of the building is done by the impact of the steel ball suspended from the
crawler crane.
- Recommended techniques for wrecking ball operations include:-
(i) Vertical drop – free falling of the wrecking ball onto the structure.
(ii) Swinging in line – swinging of the ball in line with the jib.
(iii)Slewing jib.

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GBC Notes © J. Kiranga
6. Impact Hammer demolition.
- It is also known as a “pecker”.
- Basically, it consists of a large chisel operated by a pneumatic power and fitted to the end of an
articulated boom on tracked chassis.

7. Nibbler.
- It consists of a hydraulically operated grip (fitted as in impact hammer) that can be rotated to
break brittle materials such as concrete.

8. Demolition by Explosives or Implosions.

- This is a specialized method where charges of explosives are placed within the fabric of the
structure and detonated to cause partial or complete collapse.
- The technique weakens or removes critical supports so that the building can no longer
withstand the force of gravity and falls under its own weight.
- This method should never be never be used or attempted by a building contractor without the
and supervision of an expert.

OTHER METHODS OF DEMOLITION

- Where site conditions are not suitable for the use of explosives, the following specialist’s methods
can be considered:
(i) Gas expansion burster – A steel cylinder containing a liquefied gas, which expands with
great force when subjected to an electric charge, is inserted into a prepared cavity in the
fabric to be demolished. On being fired the expansion of the cylinder causes the fabric mass
to be broken into fragments.

(ii) Hydraulic burster – Consists of a steel cylinder with a number of pistons which are forced
out radially under hydraulic pressure.

(iii)Thermal reaction – A structural steel member which is to be cut out and red removed is
surrounded by a mixture of a metal oxide and a reducing agent. The covering is ignited,

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GBC Notes © J. Kiranga
 usually by an electric current, which results in a liberation of a large quantity of heat causing
the steel to become plastic. A small force such as a wire rope attached to a winch will be
sufficient to cause collapse of the member.

(iv) Thermic lance – A steel tube, sometimes packed with steel rods, through which oxygen is
passed. The tip of the lance is preheated by conventional means to melting point (about
10000 ) when the supply of oxygen is introduced. This sets a thermo-chemical reaction of
around 35000 C at the reaction end which will melt all the materials normally encountered
causing very little damage to surrounding materials.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR DEMOLITION

- Safety precautions must be taken to safeguard persons working on the site and members of the
public who are in the vicinity, as well as to protect property likely to be affected by the
demolition.
(a) Precautions regarding Machinery / Equipment
The following precautions should be taken regarding machinery/ equipment
(i) All dismantling equipment should be operated by competent persons with appropriate
training.
(ii) These equipment should be used and maintained as recommended by the equipment’s
manufacturer or supplier.
(iii) Lifting equipment should be thoroughly examined by an authorized examiner at least
once every 12 months for those lifting goods or materials or once every 6 months for
those lifting personnel
(b) Precautions regarding Public Safety
The following precautions should be taken regarding public safety
(i) The demolition site should be properly barricaded with appropriate warning signs
posted.
(ii) Catch platforms should be provided where exterior walls or roofs are being
demolished.
(iii) Catch platforms should be provided where exterior walls or roofs are being
demolished.
(iv) Movement of machinery from floor to floor should be considered in the demolition
procedures.
(v) The use of dismantled debris to form access ramps for machinery may lead to
overloading of floors.
(c) Precautions regarding Worker Safety
The following precautions should be taken regarding worker safety –
(i) Workers involved in demolition works must be provided with appropriate training and
instructions to carry out demolition works safely.
(ii) Supervision is needed to ensure that only those workers who have received training and
instructions are authorized to carry out the work.
(iii) All personnel assessing the demolition site must be provided with safety boots and
helmets.
(iv) Workers should, when necessary, be provided with appropriate personal protective
equipment such as goggles, hearing protection devices, safety harness, gloves,
protective clothing, etc.
(v) Appropriate respirators for dust or chemicals should also be provided.
(d) Precautions regarding Scaffolding
The following precautions should be taken regarding scaffolding –
(i) Working platforms should be free from debris.
(ii) Every scaffold should have at least one designated access point.
(iii) Care should be taken to prevent damage to scaffolding components from falling debris.

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GBC Notes © J. Kiranga